Inflatable bed support

ABSTRACT

An inflatable bed support constructed of an appropriately shaped envelope with internal support strings and a valve through which the support can be inflated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] There are many medical conditions that require the upper part of the body to remain higher than the abdomen. In order to accommodate this requirement there are hospital beds, which raise and/or lower different portions of the bed by means of a motor. Other currently available devices for raising the upper part of the body while lying down include several types of pillows and wedges. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,069 discloses a folding pillow prop consisting of three rigid, foldable parts, which can be assembled into a wedge form. The device of the '069 patent is bulky and does not lend itself to be easily transported. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 952,346 discloses a rigid collapsible board consisting of a bottom part and a tiltable upper part which are elevated by pivotable riser. The device of the '346 patent is bulky and does not lend itself to be easily portable. Such existing devices also generally have the disadvantage of being suited for use solely on a single size of bed, or a narrow range of bed sizes.

[0002] There is therefore a need for a device for elevating the upper portion of the body while lying down, but that could also be moved easily from one place to another. It would also be advantageous for such a device to be small enough to fit into hand luggage, and more particularly, in hand luggage, in order to be used under the mattress of beds in different locations. Finally, it would be advantageous for such device to be usable on a variety of bed sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The device of the present invention is an inflatable bed support of any appropriate shape having internal supports. The inflatable bed support is lightweight and, when not in use, may be deflated so as to be easily transported. In order to provide upper body elevation, the deflated support is slipped underneath a mattress and is then inflated thereby raising the head and upper body portions of the mattress. Internal supports prevent the support of the present invention from loosing its functional shape when weight is placed upon the mattress, such as when one lies down upon the mattress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the inflatable bed support of the present invention.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the inflatable bed support of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The inflatable bed support of the present invention consists of an inflatable envelope in any appropriate shape. In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inflatable bed support 1 is in the shape of a wedge, as shown in FIG. 1, having a top surface 2, a bottom surface 3, two side surfaces 4 and 5 and a back surface 6. Side surfaces 4 and 5 and back surface 6 are prevented from bulging by a plurality of internal support strings which are attached in such a way as to prevent bulging. Referring to FIG. 1, a total of four internal support strings are shown, two internal support strings, 7 and 8, attached to and anchoring the two side surfaces 4 and 5 and two internal support strings, 9 and 10, attached to back surface 6 and to or near the edge intersecting top surface 2 and bottom surface 3. It will be understood that the number of internal support strings may vary depending upon the size and shape of the inflatable bed support.

[0007] Referring now to FIG. 2, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in which the inflatable bed support 11 is of a substantially cylindrical shape having a circumferential surface 12, two side surfaces 13 and 14, and internal support string 15. Inflatable bed support 11 may further include one or more internal support string stretched along the internal diameter of the inflatable bed support 11 and attached to the circumferential surface 12. Referring to FIG. 2, two such internal support strings 16 and 17 along the internal diameter are shown. It will be understood that the number of internal support strings may vary depending upon the size of inflatable bed support 11.

[0008] Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the inflatable bed support of the present invention further consists of a closable valve 18 which may be placed on any of the surfaces of the inflatable bed support. Any of a variety of prior art valves may be used in the present invention, such as those commonly used on inflatable swimming pool toys. Preferably, valve 18 is placed on an easily accessible portion of the inflatable bed support such as side surface 4 or 5 in FIG. 1 or side surfaces 13 or 14 in FIG. 2.

[0009] The collapsed wedge is inflated by means of blowing air into the internal cavity of the inflatable bed support using either a mechanical or electrical pump or by mouth. The inflatable bed support may be inflated totally or partially, according to the degree of support required. Once the inflatable bed support is inflated to the degree desired, valve 18 is closed to prevent the air from leaking out of the inflatable bed support.

[0010] If a pump is used to inflate the inflatable bed support of the present invention, it may be connected directly to valve 18 or through means of flexible tubing having the appropriate fittings or adapters. Such tubing, fittings and adapters are well known in the prior art.

[0011] To prevent overinflation, a relief valve may be included in a side surface of the inflatable bed support or connected through tubing attaching valve 18 to a pump.

[0012] It will be understood that the inflatable bed support of the present invention may be manufactured of any flexible air-tight polymeric materials. A number of such materials are known in the prior art, such as those materials typically used in the construction of swimming pool toys. Furthermore, the dimensions of the inflatable bed support of the present invention may vary depending upon the size of bed intended to be elevated. Preferably, however, the inflatable bed support is of a width, side surface to side surface distance, approximating the width of a double size mattress. It will be understood that an inflatable bed support smaller or larger than a mattress may be used under such mattress. It will be further understood that the internal support strings may be made of any of a number of known string and/or cord materials, such as cotton, polyester or nylon cording.

[0013] When not in use, the inflatable bed support may be deflated and folded so that it is easily stored or transported. 

We claim:
 1. An inflatable bed support comprising: a wedge shaped envelope comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a back surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, said top surface having a forward portion, one or more internal support strings, each of said strings having a first end and a second end, said first end of each said internal support strings attached to said first side surface and said second end of each said internal support strings attached to said second side surface; and a closable valve located on any of said top surface, bottom surface, back surface, first side surface or second side surface.
 2. The inflatable bed support of claim 1 further comprising: one or more additional internal support strings, each of said additional internal support strings having a first and second end, said first end of each said additional internal support strings attached to said back surface and said second end of each said additional internal support strings attached to or near said forward portion of said top surface.
 3. The inflatable bed support of claim 1 further comprising: a pump attached to said closable valve.
 4. An inflatable bed support comprising: a substantially cylindrical shaped envelope comprising a circumferential surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, one or more internal support strings, each of said strings having a first end and a second end, said first end of each said internal support strings attached to said first side surface and said second end of each said internal support strings attached to said second side surface; and a closable valve located on any of said circumferential surface, first side surface or second side surface.
 5. The inflatable bed support of claim 4 further comprising: a pump attached to said closable valve. 